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Dear %%%FNAME%%%, Happy New Year and welcome to the January edition of LCNews. You have received this newsletter as a customer of Low Cost Names (LCN). The newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with the services and products that LCN offers. If for any reason you do not wish to receive this newsletter simply click here.

Important article for all UN Web Hosting Customers. A Web based worm that identifies potential victims by using search engines is spreading among online bulletin boards targeting vulnerable versions of the program phpBB and it's variations (IPB, vB etc.).

ICANN's board have voted unanimously to begin discussions regarding 2 New Top Level Domain Names and for those who have ever wondered what the differences are between domain names, we have included an article to help cut through the jargon.

Yes, it's resolution time again! Let us help you with some useful information and advice on how to kick the habit of smoking for good. 

I hope you enjoy reading the newsletter and if you have any comments or suggestions please email feedback@lcn.com

Many thanks
 
LCN's Editor

IN THIS ISSUE...

UN Web Hosting Customers - Important

PHP Worm

A Web based worm that identifies potential victims by using search engines is spreading among online bulletin boards targeting vulnerable versions of the program phpBB and it's variations (IPB, vB etc.).

The Sanity worm uses a flaw in the widely used community forum software known as the PHP Bulletin Board (phpBB) to spread. The worm searches for sites using one of the major search engines looking for a vulnerable version of the software.

After it has taken over a site, the worm deletes all HTML, PHP, active server pages (ASP), Java server pages (JSP), and secure HTML pages, and replaces them with the text, "This site is defaced!!! This site is defaced!!! NeverEverNoSanity WebWorm generation X," where X indicates how far the current instance of the program is descended from the original worm release.

Web sites using a vulnerable version of phpBB should upgrade, as the phpBB Project site advises.

Related Links

Worm Details
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/perl.santy.html
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA04-356A.html

phpBB
http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=240636
http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=248046
http://www.phpbb.com/downloads.php

File Permissions

The PHP worm mentioned above rolls through the server file system looking for files that are writeable by all (i.e. have file permissions of 777). It is a security risk to have any files on your web space that can be written to by any user on the server as this latest PHP vulnerability shows.

You should make sure that your files are writeable for your user only. Typically the default permissions for a file would be 644 where the user has full access (read + write), everyone else (group and other) has read access only.

New Internet Domains Names

The Internet may soon see two new top level domains:

• .jobs
• .mobi

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ICANN said that its board had voted unanimously to begin discussions with the companies that have submitted bids (and a $45,000 application fee each) to operate those domain name suffixes.

ICANN gave preliminary approval to the .post and .travel top-level domains in October. Other proposed suffixes include .cat, .xxx, and .mail.

What's in a Domain Name?

Ever wondered what the differences are between domain names? Why did you select .co.uk, .com or .me.uk? Maybe it was the only one available or you decided to cover all the options - the technical explanation is below.

The domain-name system (DNS) allows Internet users to refer to web sites by words and phrases - domain names such as www.lcn.com which can be typed straight into your tool bar rather than the all-numeric IP addresses (such as "62.115.254.7") assigned to each computer on the Internet.

Each domain name is made up of a series of character strings (called "labels") separated by dots. The right-most label in a domain name is referred to as its "top-level domain" (TLD). .i.e. .com.

The DNS works like a tree:

• TLD - top level domain = .org,
• SLD - second level domain name = .org.uk and so on.

The responsibility for operating each TLD is delegated to a particular organisation. These organisations are referred to as "registry operators" or "sponsors". Nominet is the registry operator for all .UK Internet names. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was formed to assume responsibility for the IP address for global domain names (.com). Many global TLD's are sponsored by an organisation. The sponsors have rules to which they must adhere and which defines the purpose for which the sponsored TLD has been created and will be operated. i.e. .mil which is intended for use by US military organisations. The most commonly registered domain names are .co.uk and .com. Visit www.nominet.org.uk/Statistics/RegistrationStatistics/ for their 2004 registration statistics. Unfortunately ICANN don't publish figures on the level of registrations.

LCN offers customers the opportunity to register eight of the most well know domain names. All of these have unrestricted use. Customers can either register multiple domain names to ensure no one else can register a similar domain name i.e. yourname.biz, yourname.co.uk, yourname.com, or yourname.org or as an alternative if the .com/.co.uk is already taken. For more information on registering a domain name visit or Domain Names page.

Business Bulletin

Waging a war on low pay

Businesses may not be aware but the National Minimum Wage was increased as of 1st October last year.

The following rates now apply:

Main (adult) rate for workers aged 22 and over: £4.85 per hour (previously £4.50 an hour)

Development rate for workers aged 18-21 inclusive: £4.10 per hour (previously £3.80 an hour)

The development rate can also apply to workers aged 22 and above during their first 6 months in a new job with a new employer and who is receiving accredited training.

Any business found to be paying less than these rates could be subject to a large fine.

Who is covered?

In most cases, individuals with a contract of employment are automatically covered by the minimum wage legislation. Even if an individual does not have a contract of employment (for example a casual worker) they will usually be covered by the legislation.

A self-employed person's pay will on the whole depend on them agreeing a price for their work with the customer or client. However, this issue is not always straightforward and it is worth seeking specialist advice.

The only workers exempted from the legislation are members of the armed forces, share fishermen, voluntary workers, family workers in a family business, individuals living and working as part of a family, students attending higher education courses requiring work experience, members of religious communities and prisoners. It is important to note that a worker cannot opt out of the legislation.

Trainees and Apprentices

Individuals on recognised training schemes such as modern apprenticeships and apprentices with an employment contract (written or verbal) are entitled to the national minimum wage. However, apprentices under 26 are exempt during the first year of their apprenticeship and those under 18 are naturally excluded because there is currently no minimum wage for this age range.

Voluntary workers

In most cases, voluntary workers are not covered by the legislation, as long as they are working for a charity, voluntary organisation, school, hospital or similar body and are only receiving reasonable expenses, training or subsistence allowance. However, some people who do volunteer work could potentially be classed as workers if they receive some sort of payment or benefit in kind. It is worth noting that regular payments are likely to suggest that volunteer is a worker and is therefore covered by the legislation.

Piece rate workers

Piece workers are paid by the amount they produce rather than the number of hours they work. Piece workers must receive the national minimum wage for every hour worked. If their employer has no control over the hours they work (for example they work at home), they may come to an agreement about a fair estimate of the hours they do. Similarly, those who work on the basis of commission from sales should be treated in the same way.

Traveling time

A worker must be paid the minimum wage when traveling in connection with their work during normal working hours. This includes rest breaks taken on board trains, buses, or planes. Travel between home and work does not count. Equally, an employee on standby or on-call at or near the place of work (unless at home) must be paid the minimum wage.

Keeping records

It is essential that businesses keep sufficient records to establish that they are paying their workers at least the national minimum wage. If a worker has a reasonable belief that they have not been paid the national minimum wage, then they have a right to see the records, which must be provided within 14 days of the request.

Following this, if there is a dispute and the worker claims the business has not paid them at least the national minimum wage, then the burden will be on the employer to prove that the individual has been paid in accordance with the legislation.

Enforcement

The Inland Revenue enforces the legislation. The maximum penalty is a fine of £5,000. It is a criminal offence to refuse or willfully neglect to pay the national minimum wage; to fail to keep records or keep false records; and to obstruct an enforcement officer.

For more information on the Minimum Wage visit: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/nmw/

Disability Laws

New legislation will force businesses to make premises disabled-friendly and many small businesses will face huge fines if they do not comply with the third phase of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

The law says firms and organisations providing goods and services have to make "reasonable adjustments" to their buildings, premises and operations so that no disabled person is prevented from getting access to those services.

Changes businesses have to make include widening doors for wheelchairs, introducing ramps and hand-rails, and providing disabled-friendly lavatories. But it can also mean providing services in other ways for disabled people. For example, if a shop has steps leading up to the door, but it is impractical to remove them and put in a ramp, the shop should consider home delivery instead.

Although the cost of complying with the act won't be much for most small firms, the financial implications are more serious for some larger organisations.

And if your company is planning a conference, the organisers have a duty to find a venue that complies with the act. The responsibility does not just fall on the venue managers to make their premises compliant.

There is room in the act for firms to argue that some changes would cost too much and put them out of business. The phrase "reasonable adjustments" was chosen to leave room for interpretation.

More information can be found at www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/1995050.htm

New years resolutions

The most popular resolution made and broken every year has got to be "to quit smoking".

Well maybe we can help you keep your promise this year!

Stop smoking

Smoking is not just a bad habit, but a complex addiction. Experts believe that nicotine exerts its powerful addictive effects by altering two chemicals in the brain - dopamine and noradrenaline - known as neurotransmitters. Within seven seconds of inhaling, a concentrated dose of nicotine is delivered directly to the brain, producing a nicotine "rush". Many smokers interpret this rush as one of pleasure, but in reality the pleasure is misunderstood. It only appears pleasurable because it satisfies the craving created by the last cigarette. Over time the smoker has become victim to the classic cycle of addiction.

The addictive cycle

If this is hard to believe, think back to the first few cigarettes you smoked. Most smokers will admit that these were anything but pleasurable. In fact, you probably had to persist until the addictive cycle had taken hold before smoking gave you any kind of "pleasure". What smokers perceive as pleasure is, in reality, simply the relief of satisfying a craving for nicotine. After smoking a cigarette, withdrawal can set in as quickly as 15 minutes later.

Breaking the addiction

Despite its addictive nature, nicotine doesn't hang around in your body long (about 48 hours) once you've stopped smoking. For those who choose to go cold turkey, withdrawal symptoms are likely to be at their most intense in the first two or three days and will gradually fade away over the following two or three weeks. For those who simply can't contemplate going cold turkey, research indicates that using nicotine replacement therapy (now available on prescription) can more than double your chances of staying stopped.

Ways to kick the habit:

Acupuncture - involves needles being inserted into key pressure points on various parts of the body. The process is not painful and patients are then left to relax for half an hour or so. The needles are then removed except for two tiny ones which remain in the ear. The idea is to touch an ear lobe when a craving comes on. There are no clinical tests to prove the effectiveness of acupuncture in helping people give up, but some smokers have found it valuable.

Cold turkey - Stopping without any kind of aid. Although physical symptoms can be more extreme in the early few days, they fade away within the first two or three weeks. Most people give up smoking using this method. A resolve to get fit can be a great way to help you.

Hypnotherapy - Although nicotine is a physically addictive drug, smoking also has many psychological associations. Hypnotherapy tries to alter the subconscious mind's dependence on smoking as a habit. There are no clinical tests to prove the effectiveness of hypnotherapy in helping people give up, but some smokers have found it valuable.

Laser treatment - This is a new treatment developed by a former smoker, which uses a painless, low-powered laser to stimulate energy points on the body. These in turn stimulate production of endorphins - the body's natural pain relief chemicals - and, theoretically, relieve nicotine cravings. There are no clinical tests to prove the effectiveness of laser treatment in helping people give up.

NHS Smoking Helpline - The NHS Smoking Helpline is an excellent source of practical advice and support on smoking and giving up. Friendly helpline advisers can also provide details of your local NHS Stop Smoking Service, and information packs. Lines are open daily from 7am - 11pm, with specialist advisers available from 10am - 11pm. Call 0800 169 0 169 (for deaf and hard of hearing people, please use textphone 0800 169 0 171). Alternatively, if you would like specialist advice relating to smoking and pregnancy, call the NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 9 169. Lines are open daily 12 noon - 9pm.

NHS Stop Smoking Services - Evidence shows that you're more likely to stop smoking for good if you get the right support. Local NHS Stop Smoking Services offer free, specialist advice tailored to your individual needs. Most services offer both group sessions and one-to-one support, and can help you get nicotine gum and patches on prescription. Find your NHS Stop Smoking Service.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) - Now available on prescription, NRT is clinically proven to be twice as effective as the cold turkey method. NRT eases withdrawal symptoms while the smoker gets used to not smoking and the dose is gradually reduced. For the best results, follow the instructions carefully and consult your pharmacist or GP if you are unsure about anything. NRT is available in many forms allowing you to choose which will suit you best.

• Patches: discreet and easy to use, patches work by releasing a steady dose of nicotine into the blood stream, via the skin. Some patches are intended to be worn during the day only and other "24-hour" patches are designed for 24-hour use in order to help stave off early morning cravings. Patches should be applied to a hairless part of your body such as your upper arm but don't use in the same place two days running. You shouldn't smoke while your patch is on or use any other form of NRT unless advised by your GP.
  
  
• Gum: gum allows you to control your nicotine dose. Learning to chew the gum properly is important. The idea is to chew gently until you get the flavour and then "park" the gum in your cheek so that nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth.
  
  
• Nasal spray: this is the strongest form of NRT and is a small bottle of nicotine solution, which is sprayed directly into the nose. Absorbed faster than any other kind of NRT, this can help heavier smokers, especially where other forms of NRT have failed.
  
  
• Microtab: the microtab is a small white tablet which you put underneath your tongue and leave. It works by being absorbed into the lining of the mouth.
  
  
• Lozenge:is like a sweet that you suck slowly. It gives you nicotine in a similar way to the microtab.
  
  
• Inhalator: is a plastic device shaped like a cigarette with a nicotine cartridge fitted into it. Sucking on the mouthpiece releases nicotine vapour, which gets absorbed through your mouth and throat. Inhalators are useful for people who miss the hand-to-mouth action of smoking.
  
  
  NRT is generally safe for everyone to use and certainly much safer than smoking. However, if you are pregnant or suffering from a heart condition, you should consult your GP first.

Moment in History

St Joan of Arc (in French, Jeanne d'Arc) - Born 6th January 1412, called the Maid of Orleans, national heroine and patron saint of France, who united the nation at a critical hour and decisively turned the Hundred Years' War in France's favour.

Joan was born of peasant parentage in Domremy (now Domremy-la-Pucelle). When she was 13 years old, she believed she heard celestial voices. As they continued, sometimes accompanied by visions, she became convinced that they belonged to St Michael and to the early martyrs St Catherine of Alexandria and St Margaret. Early in 1429, during the Hundred Years' War, when the English were about to capture Orleans, the "voices" exhorted her to help the Dauphin, later Charles VII, King of France. Charles, because of both internal strife and the English claim to the throne of France, had not yet been crowned king. Joan succeeded in convincing him that she had a divine mission to save France. A board of theologians approved her claims, and she was given troops to command. Dressed in armour and carrying a white banner that represented God blessing the French royal emblem, the fleur-de-lis, she led the French to a decisive victory over the English. At the subsequent coronation of the Dauphin in the cathedral at Reims, she was given the place of honour beside the king.

Although Joan had united the French behind Charles and had put an end to English dreams of hegemony over France, Charles opposed any further campaigns against the English. Therefore, it was without royal support that Joan conducted (1430) a military operation against the English at Compiegne, near Paris. She was captured by Burgundian soldiers, who sold her to their English allies. The English then turned her over to an ecclesiastical court at Rouen to be tried for heresy and sorcery. After 14 months of interrogation, she was accused of wrongdoing for wearing masculine dress and of heresy for believing she was directly responsible to God rather than to the Roman Catholic Church. The court condemned her to death, but she penitently confessed her errors, and the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Because she resumed masculine dress after returning to prison, she was condemned again (this time by a secular court) and, on May 30th, 1431, Joan was burned at the stake in the Old Market Square at Rouen as a relapsed heretic.

Twenty-five years after her death, the Church retried her case, and she was pronounced innocent.

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LCN would like to thank you in advance for your continued support.

Kind regards

The LCN Team